Introduction to Safety Culture

Safety culture is extremely important onboard yachts since this ensures smooth operations whilst promoting the maximum safety of the crew, the vessel and the environment. It is the environment onboard, where the yacht’s crew perform every single task with the required precautions and safety measures even in cases where shortcuts would result in a quicker and more convenient option to complete a job. In situations where a shortcut is possible, and a vessel’s crew chooses to maintain safety over convenience, it is deemed a good safety culture.  

Safety Culture Onboard

Everything that has to do with yachts requires a Safety Culture. This culture introduces crew members to a way of carrying out jobs onboard with maximum safety. When a safety culture is not present onboard, accidents will not be preventable, and the consequences will have to be dealt with, which is unacceptable.  

This is called a culture because it is a shared idea about safety throughout the entire company and its fleet.  It is a living part of the SMS as it is constantly developing. Safety Culture is considered to be most effective when all crew members on board are aware of the hazards in their surroundings and do everything possible in their power to protect themselves and others, ensuring that no one gets hurt. The four main factors ensuring an effective safety culture include:

1. Commitment to safety from top management.
2. Realistic procedures are put in place.
3. Continuous learning and training.
4. A shared concern for safety across the entire company, ashore and onboard.

The commitment of top management is, by far, the most important factor since they will lay a path and be an example to everyone else. When management demonstrates seriousness in creating and maintaining a safe culture within the company, the workers will follow their example. 

Safety Culture onboard was introduced by the ISM Code (International Safety Management Code) through the Safety Management System (SMS) required to be carried on board vessels. The SMS is a system implemented by the specific company onboard vessels within its fleet to ensure the safety of life, the yacht and the marine environment. This system details all the company policies, practices and procedures that should be followed during various operations carried out on board. 

When a successful safety culture is established onboard, seafarers will always prioritise the safety of life, the vessel and the environment in every action they take. Procedures provided by the company’s Safety Management System (SMS) will be followed to ensure proper procedure is carried out and because the crew believe and see the reason and importance behind such procedures.